I received a lovely email this week. The writer mentioned that they appreciated my determination to endure with thankfulness and joy.
She noted that perhaps it’s because I’ve had so much to endure that I have lots of practice.

I don’t know for sure if I ever just sat down and determined to be joyful through all this.
Partly, I am because I have the joy of the Lord and I guess the other part is that I truly do desire to follow God’s Word. The Bible tells us much about enduring trials and being thankful and praising God in our storms.

When I was thinking about her words, I realized something. What if I hadn’t trusted God and tried to be thankful and joyful?
These past 4 years have been inexpressibly hard. I can’t imagine what it would have been like if I had chosen to complain, grumble, feel sorry for myself, and say “Why me?”
What would my son’s life be like? What fruits would I have sewn in him that would turn his life away from God?

Now, this doesn’t mean that I haven’t had many moments of tears, frustrations, and temptations to quit. I have. I’ve had many days on the couch with tears running down my face telling God that I just cannot do this anymore. I had one such day just last week.
I told him that these burdens do not feel light!

But instead of becoming bitter and angry and battling God at every turn, I’ve counted my blessings and tried to depend on him. I’ve learned so many lessons and each trial gets a little easier. God has a very good track record of caring for and providing for us.
I’m getting better at asking God to help me through situations first rather than falling apart and then remembering to ask for help.

It’s not easy when it seems that one thing after another comes my way. Tonight I was supposed to go visit Lee. I haven’t seen him for 2 weeks.
I dropped James at AWANA and started to head out of town. The car felt “funny” to me so I pulled over. I have a major flat tire. I drove home on it–I was just a few blocks away and ditched my plans to see my husband.

I do feel frustrated and just a little like crying. I don’t know how the tire will get fixed in time for the things I need to do tomorrow, but I prayed and asked God to take care of this for me and just help me to trust. This surely beats getting a headache and raging and crying all night.

That’s what I’m trying to do on this blog–show you that trusting God and thanking him even in the hard/bad times, is so much easier than going it alone.

Here is a song I’ve shared before, but it belongs in this post. Take a minute to watch or ready the lyrics and let me know if it blesses you too.

I’ll Praise You In The Storm
Casting Crowns

I was sure by now that You would have reached down and wiped our tears away,

stepped in and saved the day, but once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining …

As the thunder rolls, I barely hear Your whisper through the rain, “I’m with you.” And as You mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives, and takes away –

I’ll praise You in this storm, and I will lift my hands, for You are who You are, no matter where I am. Every tear I’ve cried, You hold in Your hand, you never left my side, and though my heart is torn, I will praise You in this storm.

I remember when I stumbled in the wind. You heard my cry. You raised me up again. My strength is almost gone, how can I carry on, if I can’t find You? As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain, “I’m with you.” And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives, and takes away.

I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Filed under: Enduring Trials, Music for Weary Hearts | 7 Thoughts Shared »